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Two months ago, the Predators opened their season with a stinker in Boston. That October loss to the Bruins seems like a distant memory.

Since then, Nashville has ascended the NHL standings and is near the top after defeating Boston 5-3 on Monday.

Here are three observations from Monday's victory:

Smith, linemates step up

Without injured center Ryan Johansen on Monday, the Predators' forward line of Kevin Fiala, Kyle Turris and Craig Smith functioned as the team's top unit against the Bruins.

Those three developed instantaneous chemistry when Predators coach Peter Laviolette placed them together one month ago, and there was no letdown against the Bruins.

Smith scored Nashville's two goals in the first period, depositing a rebound in the first 90 seconds and whipping a last-minute goal past Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin. Smith, who has 11 goals in 27 games and eight even-strength points in 12 games with Turris as his center, will match his 78-game total from last season with his next goal.

Turris had two assists Monday, and Fiala had a slick backhand goal as well as an assist. Fiala, Turris and Smith have combined for 32 points in the Predators' past 12 games.

Johansen 'day-to-day'

Since being traded to the Predators from the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2016, Johansen has missed nine games because of injury. Monday's win was the first regular-season game that Johansen has missed in his Predators career.

The Predators are better equipped to withstand Johansen's absence than they were a month ago because of Turris, who previously served as the Ottawa Senators' first-line center prior to the Nov. 5 trade that brought him to Nashville.

Predators defenseman Yannick Weber, who missed 10 games with a lower-body injury, returned Monday on the team's third defensive pair.

Bruins make it interesting

The Bruins, trailing 4-0 fewer than five minutes into the second period, didn't fold despite their deficit. Boston scored twice in a 75-second spurt in the third period, slicing its deficit to 4-3 and shining a harsh light on Nashville's recurring third-period issues.

Since Nov. 1, the Predators are 12-3-1, but have a third-period goal differential of minus-11.

After Laviolette used his timeout to refocus his team, forward Filip Forsberg scored on the following shift to create breathing room. Forsberg is the NHL's only player with a point in each of his team's home games this season.

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.